Tripod.



N9. 729,291. PATENTED MAY- 26:1903.

' w. c. DICKERSON.

TRIPOD.

APPLICATION IILED FEB. 7, 19Q3.

N0 MODEL; 2 SHEETSSHF.ET 1.

UNITED STATES.

Patented May 26, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TRIPOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,291, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed February 7,1903. Serial No. 142,332. (No model.)

To utZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WARREN O. DICKERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York' and Stateof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tripods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tripods generally, and particularly those of the class intended primarily for use in connection with cameras; and the invention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts which I will hereinafter describe and claim.

An important object of this invention is to so construct the tripod that it maybe readily folded into a small compact bundle, such as will enable it to be carried in a valise," bag, or other hand-receptacle; and another object is to construct the head of the tripod in such manner that two of the legs may be turned relative to the other or third leg, whereby when the legs are folded they lie side by side in close order, and when said legs are opened they may be secured in operative position by an appropriate catch.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which simis lar characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tripod in position for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the same folded. Fig. 3 illustrates the legs folded laterally to stand parallel inclose order and before the sections of eachlegarefolded upon each other. Fig. 4 is an under plan view of the tripod-head when the legs are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the dotted lines showing the adjusted or outward position of the parts when the legs are spread ready for use. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the head with the face-plate removed. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are details of construction to be hereinafter referred to. Fig. 9 is a crossrsection of the tripodhead.

In carrying out my invention I employ a head A of novel construction, the form and arrangement of which I will hereinafter indicate. To this head the three legs B, B,

and B are attached by hinged or pivotal connections, each of said legs consisting of a plurality of short sections, herein shown as four and numbered 1 2 3 4.,the lower one of which is slotted or grooved in the usual manher to receive the customary sliding extension a, and provision being made, as by the usual set-screw b, for the adjustment of this section to increase or decrease the vertical height of the tripod.

The leg-sections 1 2 3 4 are so jointed or hinged that said sections of each leg fold upon each other in right and left order, so that when 'the sections are folded they lie flatwise upon each other, and the length of the folded parts is no more than the length of one section, and as sections, say, thirteen and one-half inches long are sufficient for all practical purposes it will be seen that the tripod when folded for transportation purposes need not exceed this dimension as substantially its total length, and which short length well adapts the tripod for carrying in a valise or bag or other hand receptacle. The joint between the meeting ends of the sections is in the form of a housing and hinge consisting of two members D D, the former of which embraces and is fixed to the end of one legsection and is provided with perforated lugs or ears (1, while the other member, D, em braces and is fixed to the meeting end of the next adjacent'section and is provided with perforated lugs or ears (1, which match with the lugs or ears d, to which they are connected by a pintle or hinge-pin e. In addition to this the member D of the'hinge or joint has an extension d beyond the end ofthe leg-section which carries said member, and this extension is designedtofit over and receive the section D of the vadjacent leg-section and form a rigid brace, the effectiveness of which is enhanced by a spring-lock consisting of a spring-actuated plate g, Fig. 8, slidably mounted in the leg-section and provided with a stem g, which is surrounded by a spring 9, said plate having its side edges bent to one side to form retaining-guides and finger-pieces h, by which it may be operated, and said plate adapted to engage and lock with suitable recesses Z,formed in the side flanges of the member D, and said flanges being beveled at m to form inclined surfaces which engage the plate 9 and push back the same until the adjacent leg-sections are in substantially a straight line, when the plate is alined with said notch and the spring acts upon the plate to force it into the notches, and thus form a quick, effective, and strong lock.

The head of the tripod is constructed substantially as follows: It has an upper or face plate E, upon which the camera seats, said plate having depending from its under side, near one edge, a pair of spaced lugs or ears 91, located one upon each side of the transverse central line of the head. Between these lugs the upper end of the upper section of the leg B is pivotally connected, said leg having a fixed position relative to the legs B B. Beneath the face-plate E of the head is a second plate F, separated from the under side of said plate E by means of a spacing-plate 0 at one side and the cross-bar which connects the lugs or cars a at the opposite side, and on the under side of the plate F is secured another plate G, of springy material. This spring-plate is secured near one edge, and the opposite portion is left free and unsecured and at opposite points carries two studs H, which project through appropriate holes in the plate F into the space between the plates E and F, and preferably are bevelfaced and serve as catches, as I will now describe. The upper end of the upper sections of the legs B and B arealso pivotally mounted between spaced lugs 02., substantially corresponding to the lugs n of the leg B except that these lugs 12 of each pair depend from an inwardly-curved plate I, pivoted at I, so as to have a sliding movement in the space between the separated plates A and F, said plates I each having a hole J, adapted to receive the spring-pressed studs Hwhen alined therewith. Each of the aforesaid plates is perforated to receive the usual locking-screw K for securing the camera in position.

The operation of the tripod is substantially as follows: Assuming the tripod to be folded as in Fig. 2, each leg is unfolded by opening the sections thereof successivelyin right and left order, and when all the legs are opened the parts will be as represented in Fig. 3, the three legs being parallel and edge to edge, and the parts of the head will be in the position indicated in Fig. 3. To open the legs laterally, the operator will grasp the two outside legs ]3 B and cause them to turn about the pivots I, and as the opening movement progresses the outer curved or cam edges of the plates I engage and ride past the beveled faces of the studs H and depress these studs against the pressure of the spring-plate G until the holes J in said plates come into line with the studs, when the plate G immediately acts to snap the studs into the holes, and thus lock the legs against further outward movement, in which position they remain until sufficient pressure in an opposite or closing direction is exerted to cause the walls of the holes to press against and depress the studs and lift them out of the holes,when the legs may be closed, said legs swinging in both inward and outward movements relative to the middle leg B which is stationary.

When the tripod is closed and folded for transportation, as in Fig. 2, the tripod-head covers one end of the folded sections and forms a sort of protection for the spikes attached to the sliding sections of the legs, the whole series of legs being contained within a cross-area which about equals the diameter of the head, and the face-plate of the head forming a smooth-surfaced end for the folded instrument. It is also apparent that when the camera is in place upon the head and the screw K is tightened to secure it the action of this locking-screw serves to draw the springplate G upwardly, and the two studs which are carried by the plateI will beheld firmly locked in the holes J in the plates, thus locking the laterally-movable legs, so that their position cannot be changed without first loosening the screw and releasing the spring-plate. The screw therefore serves the double purpose of a lock for the camera and a means for looking the legs in their open or spread position.

The tripod can also be made of different heightssay from about fourteen inches to four and one-half feet-by simply folding one or more leg-sections about the hinge connections. This adapts the tripod for use in a window or on the ground or to take any small object close to the ground.

While showing and describing a specific form of instrument, I do not limit myself to the precise details and construction, as other equivalent constructions may be employed without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my-invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a tripod, the head thereof, in combination with legs formed of sections foldable upon each other in right and left directions, the pivotal points of the sections being located at one side of the outer faces of said sections.

2. In a tripod, the head thereof, in combination with legs formed of sections and means disposed on alternate sides of the legs exterior to the plane of said sides and pivotally connecting the meeting ends of adjacent sections and permitting one section to fold in one direction and the other section to fold in an opposite direction so as to lie fiatwise against the first-named section.

3. In a tripod the sectional legs the sections whereof are capable of folding successively in opposite directions to enable the sections of each leg to lie fiatwise on each other.

4. In a tripod, the head thereof, in combination with legs formed of sections capable of folding flatwise one upon the other, and means on alternate sides of the legs and hingedly connecting said sections so that they may swing in alternate directions and comprising a member on one section, and a member on an adjacent section hinged to the firstnamed section and having an, extension beyond the hinge-point adapted to embrace the first-named section and serve as a rigid brace therefor.

5. In a tripod, the head thereof, in combi-- nation with legs formed of sections capable of folding fiatwise one upon the other and means on alternate sides of the legs and hingedly connecting the meeting ends of the sections comprising two members hinged together and each secured to one of said sections, one of said members extended beyond the hinge-point of the members and adapted to receive and embrace the companion member, and provided with a catch, and a springactuated slide on the other member depressed by said extension in straightening out the sections and adapted to latch with said catch when alined therewith.

6. In a tripod and in combination with supporting-legs, the tripod-head includinga rigid face-plate having means pivotally connecting with one of the legs; a plate fixed to the faceplate and separated from the under side thereof, and two plates pivotally secured in the space between the aforesaid plates and each of said pivoted plates having means pivotally connecting with one of the other of the legs, whereby said last-named legs may be moved laterally relative to the first-named leg, and spring-pressed lugs disposed in the path of movement of the pivoted plates and engagedbythe said plates whereby the lugs are forced inward to allow the plates to open about their pivoted centers, said lugs engaging said plates to lock the same in an open position.

7. In a tripod and in combination with supporting-legs,the tripod-head including a faceplate having a pair of spaced lugs disposed centrally near one edge, one of said legs hinged to said lugs; a plate fixed to and spaced from the underside of the face-plate; a pair of plates, one on each side of the transverse center of the face-plate and having spaced lugs to which the remaining supporting-legs are hinged; said pair of plates below and pivotally secured to the face-plate whereby they may be moved laterally relative to the first-named leg to allow the legs to be brought laterally in line, spring-pressed lugs to automatically lock with said pivoted plates and a screw for holding the lugs in engagement with said plates and also securing the camera to the head.

8. In a tripod and in combination with supporting-legs; the tripod-head includinga plate adapted to form a seat for the camera; a plate fixed below and separated from the firstnamed plate, and provided with apertures; a spring-plate fixed below the second-nan1ed plate and provided with studs to enter the apertures of the second plate; a pair of plates, pivotally secured between the first and sec- 0nd plates and disposed one upon each side of the transverse central line of the head, and having lugs to which the remaining legs are hinged, said pair of plates each having a camshaped outer edge to engage the studs of the spring-plate and progressively retract them and said pair of plates having apertures into which said studs will enter when alined therewith, whereby the pair of plates are locked in position.

9. A tripod comprising a head, formed of two spaced plates and a pair of pivoted plates intermediate thereto and disposed one upon each side of the transversecenter of the head whereby they may be moved about their pivots, in lateral planes toward and from each other; a spring-catch operated by and adapted to interlock with said pair of plates, said lat: ter plates having spaced lugs extending there'- from, and one of said first-named plates having a pair of spaced lugs extending from it; tripod-legs each having its upper end pivotally secured to one of said pairs of spaced lugs; and a securing-screw for connecting the camera to the head.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- IIBSSGS.

WARREN C. DIOKERSON. Witnesses:

HUGO H. AROLIN, GEORGE P. CROSIER. 

